Manager/ Assistant Manager,Sports and Recreation Centre
Taylor's University
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Job summary
Taylor’s University is seeking a Manager / Assistant Manager, Sports & Recreation to lead a comprehensive sports ecosystem, drive strategic direction and foster an inclusive, high-performance student experience. You will oversee Team Taylor’s, facilities, clubs and leadership development, partnering with coaches, student bodies and external bodies.
The role focuses on strategic planning, data-driven management and stakeholder collaboration to enhance participation, performance and holistic
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Science, Sports Management, Sports Coaching, Physical Education, Business Management or related discipline.
- Master’s Degree in related field will be an added advantage.
- Professional certification in sports coaching, fitness, sports management or project management will be advantageous.
Responsibilities
- Lead and strengthen sports and recreation strategy and delivery for Taylor’s University.
- Oversee Team Taylor’s, competitive and recreational sports, facilities and student sport organisations.
- Develop athlete development pathways, coaching quality standards and wellbeing initiatives.
- Ensure safety, quality and service excellence across facilities and programmes.
- Manage partnerships, government engagement and sponsorship development.
Skills
Education
Job description
The Manager / Assistant Manager, Sports & Recreation is responsible for leading and strengthening Taylor’s University’s sports and recreation ecosystem to deliver a vibrant, inclusive and high-performing student experience. The role provides leadership across competitive sports, Team Taylor’s, campus recreation, sports facilities, student sports organisations and athlete development, ensuring that programmes are strategically aligned with the University’s priorities for student wellbeing, engagement, leadership and holistic development.
The role leads a team of sports professionals and works closely with coaches, student-athletes, student organisations, government agencies, sports associations and internal stakeholders to strengthen both competitive performance and recreational participation. The Manager / Assistant Manager is expected to drive innovation, operational excellence, safety and service standards while building a sustainable sports culture that enables students of different abilities and interests to participate, compete and thrive.
Strategic Planning
Develop and implement the annual Sports & Recreation strategy, operational plan and priorities aligned with the University’s strategic direction and Student Experience objectives.
Provide overall leadership and oversight across Team Taylor’s, competitive sports, recreational sports, campus-wide programmes, sports facilities and student sports organisations.
Annual Planning & Performance
Establish clear annual objectives, KPIs and measures of success covering student participation, competitive performance, facility utilisation, student satisfaction and programme impact.
Benchmark leading practices across universities and the sports industry and introduce innovative approaches to enhance sports participation, athlete development, student experience and operational effectiveness.
Data-Driven Management
Analyse participation, facility utilisation, competition performance, student feedback and other relevant data to identify trends and recommend improvements.
Develop and implement a structured strategy for Team Taylor’s to strengthen competitive performance in priority national and international university competitions.
Establish structured athlete development pathways incorporating coaching, conditioning, performance monitoring, wellbeing, sportsmanship and leadership development.
Competition Planning
Oversee annual competition calendars and establish performance targets for university teams participating in major tournaments and championships.
Performance Monitoring
Monitor and evaluate team and individual athlete performance against established targets and implement appropriate improvement strategies.
Team Taylor’s Code of Conduct
Ensure all athletes understand and uphold the Team Taylor’s Code of Conduct, promoting discipline, integrity, respect, sportsmanship and responsible representation of the University.
Talent Identification
Develop mechanisms to identify emerging sporting talent among current and prospective students and create opportunities for their progression into Team Taylor’s.
Coaching Framework
Develop and oversee a structured coaching framework that ensures consistency, quality and measurable athlete development across university sports teams.
Coaching Quality
Conduct regular reviews of coaching effectiveness and ensure coaching practices reflect recognised standards, athlete welfare principles and contemporary sports practices.
Performance Culture
Build a high-performance environment that balances competitive excellence with academic responsibilities, personal development and student wellbeing.
Campus-Wide Programming
Develop and deliver inclusive sports and recreational programmes including Inter-Faculty Games, Sports & Fitness Week, recreational leagues, wellness challenges and other engagement initiatives.
Inclusive Sports Participation
Expand opportunities beyond competitive athletes by creating accessible programmes for beginners, recreational participants and students from diverse backgrounds and abilities.
Active Campus Culture
Promote physical activity and active living as integral components of student wellbeing and the overall campus experience.
Develop strategies to increase student participation and sustained engagement in sports, fitness and recreational activities.
Evaluate programmes using participation data, satisfaction feedback and impact measures to inform future programming.
Facility Operations
Oversee the effective operation and utilisation of sports and recreational facilities to ensure a safe, accessible and positive user experience.
Facility Planning
Review utilisation trends and student needs and recommend enhancements, upgrades or new facilities to support changing demands.
Maintenance & Quality
Work closely with Facilities Management and relevant vendors to ensure facilities, playing surfaces and equipment are properly maintained.
Oversee facility booking systems and establish appropriate priorities and controls to optimise student and institutional utilisation.
User Experience
Monitor feedback and service standards and implement improvements to enhance overall satisfaction with sports facilities.
Ensure appropriate safety procedures, emergency protocols, first-aid provisions and risk controls are established and regularly reviewed.
Provide strategic oversight and guidance to sports clubs and assigned student organisations, ensuring compliance with University policies and student development objectives.
Leadership Development
Mentor student sports leaders in governance, succession planning, event management, conflict resolution, team management and responsible leadership.
Support sports clubs in developing sustainable membership, leadership structures, annual plans and programmes.
Student-Led Initiatives
Empower students to conceptualise and lead sporting and recreational initiatives while maintaining appropriate institutional oversight.
SHINE Award Integration
Promote recognition of sports participation, leadership and achievement through the SHINE Award and other relevant recognition platforms.
Government Relations
Represent Taylor’s University in engagements with relevant government agencies, the Ministry of Higher Education, Ministry of Youth and Sports and other sports-related bodies.
Sports Associations
Develop productive relationships with national and state sports associations, federations and relevant professional bodies.
Industry Partnerships
Build partnerships with sports organisations, corporate partners, facility providers and other stakeholders to enhance student opportunities.
Sponsorship Development
Identify and secure sponsorships, partnerships and in‑kind support that strengthen Team Taylor’s and broader sports programmes.
Institutional Visibility
Leverage competitions, partnerships and sporting achievements to strengthen Taylor’s visibility and reputation within the university and national sports ecosystem.
Lead, coach and develop Sports & Recreation staff by establishing clear responsibilities, performance expectations and development priorities.
Performance Management
Set individual goals, conduct regular performance conversations and ensure staff remain accountable for agreed deliverables and timelines.
Capability Development
Identify capability gaps and provide appropriate coaching, training and professional development opportunities.
Foster a positive, accountable and high‑performing team culture built on collaboration, trust, continuous improvement and service excellence.
Ensure appropriate allocation of responsibilities and resources across BAU operations, competitions, events, facilities and strategic projects.
Ensure appropriate risk assessments and mitigation plans are completed for sports programmes, competitions, student activities and facility operations.
Health & Safety Compliance
Work closely with Environment, Health & Safety (EHS), Facilities Management and other relevant stakeholders to ensure compliance with institutional safety requirements.
Develop, review and implement policies, SOPs, manuals and guidelines governing sports participation, facilities, athlete conduct and student activities.
Develop and manage the annual Sports & Recreation budget, ensuring responsible expenditure, financial accountability and effective utilisation of resources.
Reporting
Prepare regular management reports covering participation, competitive performance, facilities, financial utilisation, risks, student feedback and strategic initiatives.
Commitment to Service Excellence
Uphold high standards of professionalism, quality assurance, customer experience and service excellence across all Sports & Recreation functions.
University Projects & Committees
Represent the department and contribute to relevant University committees, working groups and institutional projects.
Additional Duties
Undertake other responsibilities assigned by the Senior Director / Director in response to evolving departmental and institutional priorities.
Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Science, Sports Management, Sports Coaching, Physical Education, Business Management or a related discipline.
A Master’s Degree in Sports Management, Sports Science, Business Administration or a related discipline will be an added advantage.
Professional certification in sports coaching, fitness, sports management, project management or related areas will also be advantageous.
Assistant Manager:
Minimum of seven (7) years of relevant experience in sports and recreation, higher education, sports management, coaching, student development or related fields, with demonstrated experience in leading projects, programmes or small teams.
Manager:
Minimum of eight (8) to ten (10) years of progressive relevant experience, including demonstrated people‑leadership responsibility and experience managing a significant sports, recreation, student engagement or related portfolio.
Experience in competitive sports management, athlete development, sports facilities, university sports, stakeholder management and large‑scale sports events will be highly valued.
- Strong understanding of university sports, recreational programming, athlete development and student engagement.
- Demonstrated ability to develop and execute sports and recreation strategies aligned with institutional priorities.
- Strong people‑leadership capability with experience coaching, developing and managing staff performance.
- Strong project and programme management skills covering planning, budgeting, resource allocation, execution, risk management and evaluation.
- Ability to develop competitive sports strategies and establish measurable performance targets for athletes and teams.
- Knowledge of coaching principles, athlete wellbeing, performance development and sports governance.
- Strong understanding of sports facility operations, utilisation, safety and service management.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously while maintaining accountability for timelines and outcomes.
- Strong stakeholder management and relationship‑building capabilities across students, staff, senior management, government agencies, sports bodies and external partners.
- Strong negotiation, partnership development and sponsorship management capabilities.
- Sound financial management and budgeting capabilities.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret participation, performance and utilisation data and translate insights into action.
- Excellent written, presentation and interpersonal communication skills.
- Ability to develop policies, procedures, risk controls and operational standards.
- Competent in Microsoft Office, Generative AI, data visualisation, project management and relevant sports management platforms.
- Demonstrated ability to innovate and introduce new approaches that increase participation, inclusivity and operational effectiveness.
- Strong commitment to student development, wellbeing, service excellence and holistic education.
- Demonstrates strong leadership presence and accountability.
- Strategic and forward‑thinking while remaining operationally grounded.
- Proactive and results‑oriented with strong follow‑through.
- Able to inspire, coach and develop staff and student leaders.
- Collaborative and capable of influencing across different levels of the University.
- Demonstrates high emotional intelligence and sound judgement.
- Resilient and composed when managing high‑pressure competitions, events or operational situations.
- Student‑centred and committed to creating inclusive opportunities.
- Innovative and open to challenging existing practices constructively.
- Professional, ethical and trustworthy.
- Demonstrates a strong commitment to health, wellbeing and active living.
- Builds positive relationships while maintaining appropriate accountability and standards.
- Comfortable making decisions and taking ownership of outcomes.
- Demonstrates continuous learning and keeps abreast of developments in sports, recreation and student experience.
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